Well, here it is. A column of general patter directed at all those interested. News, views, questions, discussions and here and there a bit of gossip --- if I hear any! Hope you like the little notes that will appear under the above heading. Appearance will be spasmodic. This may be called #1 and #2 will appear when and if the spirit moves me to the typewriter. Read on at your own risk:
SEVEN FOOTPRINTS TO SATAN: After a recent talk with Alva Rogers and Ackerman I decided to see what could be done about getting Merritt's Seven Footprints To Satan on the screen again in a remake. Investigation showed the best angle of approach was to see Wolfgang Rheinhart, the producer at Warners who is the man behind the career of Mr. Sydney Greenstreet (need I say that Merritt couldn't have written the role of Satan any better for Greenstreet if he had been trying.) I was welcomed by the Producer who listened with growing interest as I wove the story around the Greenstreet character. Mr. Rheinhart became greatly interested and said, "See me in a few days as I shall have to check up on the rights and read the story over." So three days later I returned but t'was in vain. He had read the story and was immensely interested but the story was too fantastic for production so with that I think we can pretty safely mark our excellent story off the books as a screen remake possibility. One advantage of the interview however, is the fact that Mr. Rhinehart is now an ardent Merritt fan and has borrowed a large portion of my Merritt collection to read.
EDWARD ARNOLD - Fantasy Fan: In a recent discussion with Mr. Arnold I discovered that he was an ardent mystery fan (Fans will remember him particularly for his role in the pictureization of "The Devil and Daniel Webster"). I spoke to him of the possibility of his playing the role of Satan and he quickly became interested in Mr. Merritt's work and further discussion centered on Amateur publishing and H. P. Lovecraft and his works. H.P.L.'s. "The Outsider" from my description seemed to intrigue him so I gave him a copy of the 49¢ Tower Lovecraft book for his collection for which he was very grateful. A note to W. Paul Cook and Tim Thrift of the NAPA: Mr. Arnold was intrigued also with your "The Ghost" and "The Aonian" respectively and was very profound if his admiration of the pieces. If either of these gentlemen would care to send me any copies they have on hand of these two publications I shall be glad to give them to Mr. Arnold which I am sure he will enjoy perusing at his leisure. For obvious reasons I cannot give his address here.
ED RUSSELL, who is stand-in for that great humorists Robert Benchley, is an old time Science Fiction Fan; having read the stuff since about 1929. We have many discussions on the set about stories, authors and artists.
THE NAPA - LASFS situation: At a recent meeting of the LASFS a few members of the NAPA answered a letter of invitation to meet with the LASFS on the possibility of extending the use of the club's facilities to them for their meetings and publishing efforts. It was decided by Wesley Porter (publicity man of the NAPA) and two other NAPAers that the best thing would be for the NAPAers to meet elsewhere for dinner some eve and get their organization lined up, then talk business. So much for the news item. It is my candid opinion that the whole deal will die a gradual death. Reason: there are too few NAPA members who can spare the time towards a club activity and if there was a possibility I think it will be dampened by the appearance of the clubroom. I don't know of the other Napaers but I have become well enough acquainted with Mr. Porter to know his is not the type of man to work in a pigsty. Such is the Club Room, as I see it.
QUESTION: Bob Tucker - "What are the subjects and format of the printed booklets you speak of that follow the termination of LeZ?"
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GREY: Here is a terrific fantasy, well done. The only drawback is the fact that Hurd Hatfield carries a Zombie expression on his face throughout. Possibly they might have shown an intermediate stage of the painting but then too, it might have spoiled the shock-treatment that the director handled so well. At any rate be sure and see the pic as soon as possible.
SURREALISTIC PICTURE: Recently, here in LA, a local theater presented an all surrealistic program - "Blood of a Poet" (French with English titles) and "Lot in Sodom" plus a surrealistic cartoon. All that have seen it here in the LA camp have liked it very much but I'm afraid I'm non-intellectual or something because I thought it was one of the rottenest things I've ever seen put on film. As far as I am concerned it just plain " STINKS". George Tobias and Dick Erdman, two Warner Brothers stars saw it also and upon being asked their opinion they heartily agreed with me that it was a waste of film. Each person who has seen it that is not a fan hasn't liked it. Every fan that has seen it that I have talked to has liked it. Maybe I'm not a fan?
NEW YORK, HERE THEY COME: According to somewhat well-founded statements it seems pretty sure that Alva Rogers, Art Saha, Jimmie Kepner, and Mel Brown will be heading for New York around the first part of August. Details are not exact enough to go into.
MIMEO REPAIRED: The new LASFS Mimeo underwent a $2.00 repair bill recently for the replacement of three wornout rollers. This is the first repair job on the machine since it was purchased a year ago. This is much better than the $35.00 a year that was necessary on the old machine. And does the LASFS machine gets a beating, O H , B R O T H E R ! ! !
FANTASY FILM: Don't miss " The Horn Blows At Midnight" with Jack Benny. It is a fantasy riot about it an angel sent down to earth to blow a horn at midnight which will destroy the planet which has caused no end of trouble to the higher beings. From start to finish its a riot of fun. (Incidentally, if you have seen a photograph and know what I look like you can't miss me in the swing-shift-dance-sequence as one of the dancers very demonstrative in the desired to evict Benny. )
Well, as they say at the studio when our day's work is finished,
" WRAP 'EM UP AND HOME TO MAMA!"
Data entry by Judy Bemis
Updated December 21, 2011. If you have a comment about these web pages please send a note to the Fanac Webmaster. Thank you.